Homeland Coat-of-Arms/Shields

1972-1994

Arms of Bophuthatswana

The Bophuthatswana Coat of Arms were registered in terms of the South African Heraldry Act on 08 September 1972 and were retained on independence. They are described and illustrated in Section 2 of the Republic of Bophuthatswana Constitution Act (Act No. 18 of 1977). The blazon of the coat of arms is described as:

Arms: Per fess (at nobril point) Gules and Vert, in chief a mine headgear, in base dexter three grain sorghum ears seeded in bend, and sinister an ox head caboshed in bend sinister, the shield interlaced palewise of a traditional plumed staff; behind the shield an assegai and battle-axe in saltire, Or.

Supporters: Two leopards gardant proper.

Motto: TSHWARAGANANG LO DIRE PULE E NE (If we stand together and work hard we will blessed with rain).

With the re-incorporation of Bophuthatswana into South Africa in April 1994, these Arms are no longer in use.

1972-1994

Arms of Ciskei

The Ciskei Coat of Arms were registered in terms of the South African Heraldry Act on 08 September 1972 and were retained on independence. The arms are illustrated and described in Schedule 4 of the Republic of Ciskei Constitution Act and described as follows:

Arms: Pert saltire Or and Gules, in chief a bull's head caboshed proper, in base a tree on an island Vert; behind the shield an assegai and knobkerrie in saltire Sable.

Crest: Four ivory rings conjoined, standing thereon a blue crane holding in his beak a sprig with nine leaves proper.

Supporters: Two leopards guardant proper.

Motto: SIYAKUNQANDWA ZIINKWENKWEZI (Reach for the Stars).

With the re-incorporation of Ciskei into South Africa in April 1994, these Arms are no longer in use.

1972-1994

Arms of Gazankulu

The Gazankulu Coat of Arms were registered in terms of the South African Heraldry Act on 08 September 1972 and are described as follows:

Arms: An oval shield, per fess wavy, in chief Azure, two spoons in saltire, handles upwards and joined embowed Chain Or, in base per pale Argent and sable, dexter two cogwheels conjoined in pale sable, sinister a flame Or; over all ten pairs of spear thong apertures in pale Argent.

Crest: On a wreath Argent and sable, a lion passant guardant Gules holding in the dexter forepaw a horn erect, Or.

Supporters: Dexter a buffalo and sinister a sable antelope proper.

Compartment: Vert, semé of succulents proper.

Motto: MINTIRHO YA VULAVULA (Deeds Count)

With the re-incorporation of Gazankulu into South Africa on 27 April 1994, these arms are no longer in use

1972-1994

Arms of Lebowa

The Coat of Arms of Lebowa were registered in terms of the South African Heraldry Act on 08 September 1972, and is described as follows:

With the re-incorporation of KaNgwane into South Africa on 27 April 1994, these arms are no longer in use.

1972-1994

Arms of KwaZulu

The Coat of Arms of KwaZulu was registered on 08 September 1972 in terms of the South African Heraldry Act. The blazon of the coat of arms is described as:

Arms: Argent, a Zulu Royal Sceptre erect proper, accompanied on either side by nine spear thongs in pale and in base pied of an oval Sable.

Crest: A head-ring Sable, thereon an elephant’s head caboshed proper.

Supporters: Dexter a leopard clasping in its sinister claw a spear erect and sinister a lion clasping in its dexter claw a spear, proper.

Motto: SONQOBA SIMUNYE (Together we shall surmount).

With the re-incorporation of KwaZulu into South Africa on 27 April 1994, these Arms are no longer used.

1981-1994

Arms of KwaNdebele

The coat of Arms of KwaNdebele was registered on 13 February 1981 in terms of the South African Heraldry Act on 13 February and described as:

Arms: Per fess battled embattled Or and Brunatre, masoned sable, in chief a mealie head seeded Argent leaved Vert; behind the shield a battle-axe and assegai in saltire, proper, and in pale a bundle of woodstaves Or and a knobkerrie, resting in a quiver, proper.

Crest: In front of an otter skin Brunatre pendanrt from the woodstaves by a neckband Vert, a breast feather of the red-breasted shrike issuant proper.

Wreath: A head ring Sable.

Supporters: Dexter a rietbok (reedbuck) and sinister a wildebeest, both proper.

Motto: KUVUSWA EZIVUSAKO (He who helps himself, is helped).

With the re-incorporation of KwaNdebele into South Africa on 27 April 1994, these Arms are no longer in use.

1979-1994

Arms of Venda

The initial Arms registered for Venda on 08 September 1972 did not include supporters. An amended version was registered in terms of the South African Heraldry Act prior to Venda’s independence in February 1979. These Arms were formally taken into use at the independence on 13 September 1979 and are described as follows:

Arms: Vert, an elephant's head caboshed Or, tusked Argent, the whole within a bordure Or.

Crest: A Venda tribal drum proper.

Supporters: Two elephants proper.

Motto: SHUMELA VENDA (Always Aspire for Venda).

Following the re-incorporation of Venda into South Africa on 27 April 1994, these Arms are no longer used.

Homeland Law Enforcement Badges/Emblems

Each of South Africa's former homelands had their own law enforcement services, correctional services, and police departments. Each had their own distinct emblems and badges, some of which are featured in this section.

CPD Emblem

Badge of the Ciskei Police

The badge of the Ciskei Police Department comprises a seven-pointed star bearing a black roundel with the Ciskei Arms in full colour, surrounded by an annulet in green, edged in gold, bearing the words AMAPOLISA ASECISKEI above and CISKEIAN POLICE below.

Ciskei was a nominally independent state (Homeland - Bantustan) in the south east of South Africa. It covered an area of 2,970 square miles, almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province, and possessed a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean.

CPLED Emblem

Badge of the Ciskei Police Law Enforcement Division

The badge of the Division which comprises a black outline of the Ciskei Arms in the centre of a yellow background of a rayed seven pointed star, surrounded by an annulet bearing the words I CANDELO LOGCION. MTHETHO above and LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, below, all in black letters. Beneath the arms is the Ciskei motto, SIYAKUNQANDWA ZIINKWENKWEZI which translates as "Reach for the Stars"

CTP Emblem

Badge of the Ciskei Traffic Police

The badge of the Ciskei Traffic Police Force comprised a light blue shield fimbriated in white, bearing in the centre a five pointed star faceted black and white. In the centre on a dark blue roundel is the Ciskei Arms in full colour. Over the upper ray of the star is a ribbon with the words CISKEI in white, while below over the two lower rays is a ribbon inscribed ULAWULDLWEZEHOLELA and TRAFFIC CONTROL, and beneath is a horizontal stripe with the date 1975.

KZPD Emblem

Badge of the KwaZulu Police

The badge of the KwaZulu Police Department comprised a yellow-ochre and white eight-pointed rayed star charged in the centre on a white roundel with the coat of arms of KwaZulu in full colour, within a green annulet bearing the words AMAPHOYISA AKWAZULU above and KWAZULU POLICE below, in yellow-ochre letters.

KCS Emblem

Badge of the KwaZulu Correctional Services

The KwaZulu Correctional Services badge consists of a gourd charged with a representation of the ground plan of a cattle kraal, with an inner kraal, above which are three Zulu huts; the gourd resting on a grass mat, all within and conjoined to two feathers tied together to form an open wreath.

The badge was designed by the South African Bureau of Heraldry and was registered under the Heraldry Act in 1991.

LPD Emblem

Badge of the Lebowa Police

The Lebowa Police Department badge comprises a fourteen-pointed facetted star in gold bearing in the centre on a white roundel the Arms of Lebowa in full colour, within a gold annulet bearing in black letters the words "LEBOWA" below and POLISIE, MAPHODISA and POLICE clockwise in a semi-circle above.

TPD Emblem

Badge of the Transkei Police

The badge of the Transkei Police Department consisted of a rayed five-pointed star shaded brown and white, charged in the centre, on a white roundel, with the coat of arms of Transkei in full colour within a white annulet edged in brown bearing the inscription AMAPOLISA ASE TRANSKEI above, and TRANSKEI POLICE below.

TPS Emblem

Badge of the Transkei Prisons Service

The badge of the Transkei Prisons Service is a gold five-pointed rayed star with the shield from the Transkei Arms in colour in the centre, within a gold annulet bearing the words TRANSKEIAN PRISONS in black letters, all within a gold open laurel wreath.

TDF Emblem

Badge of the Transkei Defence Force

The badge of the Transkei Defence Force was a black Nguni ox-hide shield, superimposed on a spear and rifle with fixed bayonet in saltire, supported by two leopards standing on a gold ornamental ribbon folded back in white bearing the motto, DISCIPLINE LOYALTY DUTY.

BPD Emblem

Badge of the Bophuthatswana Police

The badge of the Bophuthatswana Police Department comprised a yellow nine-pointed star charged in the centre on a white field with the coat of arms of Bophuthatswana in full colour within a red annulet bearing the words BOPHUTHATSWANA POLICE in white letters.

BPS Emblem

Badge of the Bophuthatswana Prisons Service

The badge of the Bophuthatswana Prisons Service is a gold facetted nine-pointed star bearing, in the centre, on a yellow field, the coat of arms of Bophuthatswana in full colour within a white ring with the words BOPHUTHATSWANA PRISONS in black letters.

KPD Emblem

Badge of the KwaNdebele Police

The KwaNdebele Police Department badge comprised four battle-axe heads in cross with rays in saltire, surrounded with a ribbon bearing the words KWANDEBELE POLICE PHOLISA - POLISIE and in the centre the coat of arms of KwaNdebele in full colour.

VPD Emblem

Badge of the Venda Police

The badge of the Venda Police Department was a facetted six-pointed white star charged in the centre with a gold roundel bearing the Venda Arms in colour, within a black annulet bearing the words MAPHOLISA A VENDA above, and VENDA POLICE below.

- My thanks to Bruce Berry, Martin Grieve, and Jens Pattke for their expertise and artwork used on this page -